Facts on Tomato Varieties Help Gardeners Succeed 5/1/02

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Tomatoes probably remain the No.1 U.S. garden crop because they taste good and because they’re fairly easy to grow.

But the plants can provide even more for gardeners who know a bit about tomato varieties, according to Kansas State University horticulturist Chuck Marr.

"Most tomato plants have just three basic requirements. They need at least a half-day of sunlight, enough water, and soil that’s well-drained and fairly fertile," Marr said. "Unless a particular variety likes where it’s growing, however, it may mostly produce vine, rather than tomatoes. That’s why looking for varieties that have done well in scientific testing in your state or area is always a good idea."

‘Big’ Tomato Plants
Can Be Worst Choice

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Biggest often isn’t best, at least when it comes to buying tomato plants.

Research has found "big" tomato plants don’t transplant well. Plus, those that survive transplant shock never equal the output of tomatoes moved into the garden while still small, said Chuck Marr, horticulturist with Kansas State University Research and Extension.

Marr defines "big" as looking out of balance – too tall or overgrown for the size of pot. "Big" also can mean blooming heavily or already producing fruit.

"The best transplants are young, short, stocky and a healthy-looking dark green," he said.

An old technique for giving leggy tomatoes a good start was to (1) bury the roots slightly deeper than they were in the pot, (2) gently bend over the stem and bury most of it below ground, and (3) leave the now-shorter plant top exposed to the sun.

"That’s little to no help. The buried stem does develop roots – which requires lots of plant energy. The technique also keeps a long, thin stem from whipping around in the wind. But none of that makes up for the plant’s having started out in overgrown shape," Marr said.

Other important factors in variety selection are how a gardener plans to use the tomato "fruit" and how much plant-growing space is available. The horticulturist outlined these combinations, along with current K-State Research and Extension variety recommendations for each situation:

* Standard-size tomatoes are best suited for eating fresh in salads and on sandwiches. Unless a variety has "dwarf" in its name or description, standard producers aren’t suited for growing in patio pots. But some newer varieties for the garden have tested out as producing larger, meaty fruit on a fairly compact vine (Carnival, Celebrity, Empire, Merced, Mountain Fresh, Mountain Spring). Some have produced lots of tomatoes on a small vine, plus held on to their blossoms during extreme summer heat (Sun Leaper and Sunmaster).

* Roma tomatoes are best for cooked tomato products, such as tomato paste, salsa, chili, spaghetti sauce and the like. Compared to standard tomatoes, they contain less "juice" and more "meat." They’re also smaller and often almost pear-shaped. Romas grow on a compact vine, so are suitable for the garden, as well as a large patio pot and some vine support. Three varieties bring a Kansas field-tested bonus – good disease tolerance (LaRoma, Plum Dandy, Viva Italia).

* Cherry tomatoes traditionally are bite-sized and round, so are good for salads and fresh snacks. Their vines are no longer a sprawling 10 feet long, but today’s varieties still require garden space and support. Two varieties with 4- to 5-feet-long vines have done well in K-State trials (Large Red Cherry and Small Fry), as has a new and even more compact variety (Mountain Belle).

Small, oval-shaped cherry tomatoes appeared on the market several years ago, often under the name "grape tomato." Their vines are smaller than the typical cherry tomato vine, too.

"These little oval tomatoes may be the only cherry type that’s suitable for container gardening," Marr said. "We’re still testing to find which kinds will do well under Kansas’ often-harsh growing conditions, but the Sweet Olive variety has already shown promise."

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.